Electrode.



Patented Apr. I6, i901.

(Application led Feb. 16, 1901.) (No Model.)

me Nana ls Persan w. PNcTuumo.. wAsnlmmnN. ov c UNITED' STATES PATENTFFICE.

HENRY E. WAITE, 'OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRO D E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 672,047, dated April16, 1901.

Application iiled February 16, 1901. v Serial Nol 47.602. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, HENRY EWAITE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electrodes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in therapeutic electrodes for usemore particularly in the application of static electricity to the humanbody; and its object is t0 provide anelectrode by means of which staticelectricity may alone be administered or the static charge may beaccompanied by a vapor having medicinal properties, which vapor isproduced by catophoric action on any desired drug introduced into theelectrode by particular means.

Electrodes are in use for introducing medicinal substances directly intothe tissues of the human body through the agency of a constant currentof galvanic electricity, the action being known as catophoricmedication, electro-osmosis, or anodal diffusion 5 but it is necessaryin this case that the electrodes shall be in actual contact'with thebody. While there are also various ways of treating diseases by means ofthe faradic or induced current and the static electricity from aninuence-machine, my especially-devised electrode is particularlyapplicable for use under conditions where neither galvanic nor faradicelectricity would produce any results.

My electrode is designed for use with static electricity in connectionwith that form of treatment known as static insulation, whereby thepatient,placed upon an insulated stand, is charged for a given length oftime with either a positive ornegative charge, according as the patientis connected with the positive or negative pole of an influence-machine.The poles of the machine should be separated to the desired distance,and if under these conditions the electrode connected with the secondpole of the machine is held in proximity to the patient on the insulatedstand his body will receive a charge which has known therapeuticaleffects. By means of catophoric action, while this condition of staticinsulation is being produced, I am able to diffuse about the patient avapor having medicinal qualities which penetrates the l clothing` andproduces the effects desired, but

in a mild and agreeable manner, without shock or any of theaccompaniments of the more severe forms of treatment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side View, partly insection, of an electrode made according to my invention. Fig. 2illustrates its use in connection with a static machine.

Referring to Fig. l, A represents the body of an electrode made ofanysuitable electroconductive substance,but preferablyofmetal. The bodymay be of any desirable shape, but I have shown it curved at B to form aconvenient handle C and as having an extended tubular portion D. At apoint between the handle C and end F of the electrode is a means forattaching a receptacle shown as a screwthreaded lug E, and extendingfrom the top of the lug through the electrode to the end F is a channelhaving a capillary dimension and shown` as tapering from E to F. Avessel H, which may be of glass or rubber, is adapted to be secured tothe lug E and hold the material from which to produce the vapor Whilethe electrode is in use. Upon filling the vessel H with the desiredmaterial it will pass into the channel G, but cannot under ordinarycircumstances pass out through the capillary portion. Should theelectrode A, however, be connected with one pole of an influence-machineunder the conditions hereinbefore specified, the material then becomescharged with electricity and is caused by catophoric action to flow fromthe end F in the form of an exceedingly light and penetrating Vapor.

In Fig. 2 is shown the method of using my electrode, in which a, andbrepresent-the poles of an influence-machine, and c an insulated standconnected, as by a chain d, with the negative pole a. The otherelectrode is grounded by attaching it, as by a chain g, to the gas-pipee or by simply allowing the end fof the chain to fall to the iioor. Thepoles d and b are placed at a proper distance apart, and the patient Pis placed upon the stool c. The operator O, with the electrode Acontaining the desired medicating material in his hand, takes his standin proximity to the patient, as shown in the figure. Then if the machineto which the poles a and b are con- IOO nccted is set in operation thestatic electricity passes through the chain g to the floor or ground,thence to and through the operator to the electrode A, and from itspoint to the patient, causing the hereinbefore-mentioned vapor to issue.Thus the use of my electrode makes it possible to administer mildapplications of static electricity to sensitive patients in conjunctionwith a medication.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts shown, I claim as my inventionl. A therapeutic electrode for theapplication of static electricity consisting of an electroconductivebody with a tubular portion having a capillary channel, substantially asdescribed.

2. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of an electroconductive body with a tubular portion having acapillary opening at its point, substantially as described.

3. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of a body having a hollow lug for the attachment of a vessel,and a tubular portion, substantially as described.

et. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of a body having a hollow lug for the attachment of a vessel,and a tubular portion having a capillary channel, substantially asdescribed.

5. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of a body with a tubular portion, a hollow lug on the bodyand a vessel attached to the lug, substantially as described.

6. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of a body with a 'tubular portion having a capillary channel,a hollow lug on the body and a vessel attached to the lug, substantiallyas described.

7. A therapeutic electrode for the application of static electricityconsisting of a body with a tubular portion having a capillary openingat its point a hollow lug on the body anda vessel attached to the lug,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY E. WAI'IE.

Witnesses:

E. S. WILKINSON, E. H. OPITZ.

